Apparatus for printing.



2 sHEzTs-SHEET x.

C0 ,By/ftfoeneys Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

l. E. WOODBURY.

APPARATUS FOR PRNTING. APLmMmN mw JUNE 4.1913.

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l. E. WOODBURY.

APPARATUS FUR PRINTING.

APPucATloN man uur 4. 1913.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

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- tered UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

JOHN E. WOODBURY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR PRINTING.

Application led June 4, 1913.

lo all H'mm if muy conf-cru lie it known that I, Jouxv E. W'oonunr, a citizen ot' the United States, residing at 'orc-vster, iu the county of ll'oreester and Stato of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Printing, of which the following is a specification.

'lhis invention relates to an apparatus for printing designs and illustrations from intaglioplates.

tonsiderahle diiiieultv has heen encounin doing ronnnercial printing from intaglio plates involving illustrations, because the tinted or haltI tone parts o f the design will not print clearly under Ordinar),1 conditions. rlhis is of particular important-e in rases involving hoth illustrations and reading matter which is the usual ('ondition presented in this class of printing.

.\lthough the invention relates lnoadlyto this art as specified above, regardless of the particular applications thereof, it is especially applicable to the printing of high class letter-heads and advertisements of various kinds in which rit is desired to secure tlu` highest degree ot' perfection in the printingl of illustrative designs of more or less complicated nature. lt is well understood that t'or the purpiise of printing such designs, tht` paper should he moistened, but this has alwaysl presented difficulties for the reason that it isditlirult to handle inoistened sheets at a high enough rate of speed and with .sutlicient accuracy to do this class of printing within a reasonable cost and yet keep lh(l quality of the highest degree. I have discovered that it is possible to secure the highest class of results hv the local moistoniug ot' the sheet within the space oecupied hy the illustration.

This invention. therefore. relates to the apparatus h v which this method can he carried out. and to details of construction and combinations of parts involved in such apparatus.

Reference is to be had to the ing drawings. in which- Figure 1 is a side view of a well known kind of plate press showing a preferred ernbodiment of this invention applied thereto; Eig. 2 is a front elevation of the same; Fig. 3 isa transverse sectional View on the line ig. 2 on enlarged scale; Fig, t is a sideviewshowinga modification and simplilicationof the apparatus, and Fig. 5 is a accompany- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916. Serial No. 771,668.

plan of a letter-head with this invention.

The invention is shown printing press of well known type havingr a frame 10. This frame is provided with the usual power shaft 12 and rotary members 13, the connections between which will not he described herein or shown in full as they are well understood in this art. Connected with these rotary members is an arm or lever ll connected with a lilik 15 and operating a slide 16 in a well known Way to move it forward and back in guides on the frame. 'lhe intaglioiplate 17 is held in position beprinted in accordance as applied to a low Yan opening in the feed table 18 which has a slight vertical motion. The paper to he printed upon is registered by the registering devices 1S) on the feed table in the usual way. Then a plunger 20 aseends, moving the plate up through the feed table against the` counter 21. These parts also are Well understood, and any desired mechanism can he employed for this purpose, this invention being independent of any particular style of press.

an outwardly extending portion 2l of the base of the frame is a platsame level moved up. 0n this platform are registeringl devices 26 corresponding with the registering devices 19 for 'receiving the sheets before they are put. into the press propel'. The side registers on the platform iare shown on the left and those for the press on the right.

(`onnected with the arm 14 is a flexible connection 30. This is shown as passed around pulleys 31 and'connected byfa'fmetal connection 32 with the end of a belt 33. This belt is made of a strip of textile material which is capable of taking up moisture and lhaving that moisture spread throughout agiven portion thereof, so as to be uniformly dampened. At the other end this tiexihle belt is connected by a `clamp 34 or the like through another connection 32 with a flexible member 35 leys 36 and is connected with an arm 375ecured on the same shaft as the arm 14 and o scillatlable therewith. A slide 38 is connected with the belt and slides along a stationary frame 39 to guide the belt and keep 1t from flapping. In this way the movement which passes over pulthe two together' work the two ends of the combined flexible member, so that the oscillation of these arms causes this belt 33 to iuove back and forth.

v'lhe path of thil belt is shown more fully in Fig. Il. lt passes under a` roller 40 and over a roller 'l1 which is adjustable by a screw 42. These rollers are mounted on an extension of the platform 25. lt then passes adjacent to the registers 26 and under the position which the sheet occupies when registered therein., It then passes over a roller 43 down to the lower clamp Z-l-l. (ln the platform 25 is a block 44 which is provided with a projection 45. This projection extends up into contact with this Hexible belt and is of the. same size and shape as the illustrative portion of the design of the intaglio plate used on the press and of the counter. It is also located in the same position with respect to the registers 2G that this design on the plate is to the registers 19.

An arm 47 is errentrically connected with one of the rotary members lil-and pivoted to a lever 48 to which is connected a pivoted platen 49 directly over the block 44. This also is shown as provided with a projection 5U and as being covered with a textile water absorbing sheet 51. This projection registers with the projection These parts obviously iivorli; with the press and for each revolution of the press vthe platen moves down once substantially in contact with the block 44. A V

Over the belt 33 on the platform 25 is located a stationary sheet 52 which is made of textile material capable of absorbing and holding moisture. This is stretched out be tween a plate 53 and a clamp ig member .'i-t andis shown as of two thicknesses. It is directly upon this that the paper sheet A is located.

In a convenient position is arranged n water pipe 5t', having a nozzle 57 with an adinstable valve 58 arranged over the path of the movable belt 33 and not far from the rolls 40 and 41. r!`his valve can he adjusted.

to any desired flow of water. The belt shifter 60 which controls the starting and stopping of the press in the usual way is provided withan eatending end G1 which engages and operates the stem 62 of a controlling valve .GBwhich permits the operator .when shifting the belt to turn on or 0H' thtl water in the pipe.

`When the water is turned on it will drip constantly on the belt in accordance with the adjustment of the valve 58. The water dropping on the belt obviously would spread to some. extent by itself-but would not spread uniformly under all conditions, and would leave the belt with vthe most moisture at the center. For the purpose of thoroughl)v sproadin; r the moisture. the belt is passed over the rolls 40 and il. This` squeezes the moisture from the center to the edges and keeps thc moisture uniform across the belt. 4

Another important feature in connection with the Inoistening of the paper consists in the provision oi means' wliereb'v the pressure on the paper first insuresthe application of a spot` of moisture to the double sheet 52 and applies that moisture with pressure to the sheet of paper. The projections t5 and .3() hold the paper and belt awaqv from the block -H and platen 49 and thus prevent the application of moisture beyond their areas. Then as the platen ascends the removal ol' the pressure permits the absorbent material of the sheet 52 and belt 33 to talco up any excess of moisture from the paper.. thus preventing the paper being made too wet. Thus the spot is mostened uniformly, and all the sheets are inoistened to the same dcgree. It will be understood readily that the excessive. wetting of a small spot on a sheet of paper would tend to swell the paper very badly at. the inoistened spot und thus inahe it ditticult to handle und diti'icult to impress it with the design properly without wrinkling or snuitting. The primary object of the sheet 52 is to provide a stationaryv support for the paper.

The papel' having been moistened and the moisture having been absorbed, toleavc the moisture in a proper condition thereon. the sheet is transferred from theregisters Q6 to the registers 1f). This can be done obviouslir automatically or by hand, but in the present case the invention is shown as applied to a hand press, and it intended that theI operator shall take the sheets one at a time from the moisture registers and appl)Y them to the printing registers. This is donc at the time when the platen 49 is moving up and when the pressure members of the press are separated. At the same time the printed sheet is being remoiied. The. motion of both hands of the. operator in taking the sheetl from the moisture applying mechanism and putting it into the press and taking the other sheet from the press and piling it. up at the side is in the same direction and at the saaie time. Consequently it does not niaterially add to the skill or rapidity required ol' the operator.

In Fig. 5 the sheet A is shown with an illustrative design li and tbc dotted line C indicates the extent` of the aj'iplication of' moisture'. mattei' is not included in the part which is moistened unless 'it is necessariy topi-ovide the printingl in the design itself. In this way it will be seen that a uniform. but not excessive, moisture is applied; to eaclisheet localized over that portion 'thereof `ivhich is to receive the imprint involvin t the illustrativc. that is the` tinted or hal tone, portion or portions. and the printingr is done lt will be seen that the pi-.intefl immediately after the moisture is applied and the excess removed. The perfectly black parts of the design, can be sepfrom such plate, of a secon means for registering the sheet, and mean adjacent to the second registering means if.' applying moisif the arated from the remainder, andythe reading -ture to certain portions of the sheet, and for matter, do not need this treatment.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4, the arrangement of the belt 33 is substantially j'the same, except that one end is directly connected and the other almost direct-ly connected with two arms 65 and 66 which are mounted on the same shaft 67. This is a shaft added to the printing machine, and is operated by a link motion G8 from the arm 14. The same principles apply. however.

Although I have illustrated and described only two ways of carrying out the invention I am aware of the fact that many modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore I do not wish to be limited in these respects but 'hat I do claim is 1. In an intaglio printing device, the combination with means for moistening a portion of a sheet to be printed, and means for keeping the remainder of the sheet dr'v, of means fory making the impression from the illustrative portion of an intaglio plate on the moistened portion of the sheet.

2. In an apparatus for printing from intaglio plates, the combination with means for locally moistening a portion of the `sheet, means for preventing the spreading of the moisture beyond the moistened portion. means `for removing .any excess of moisture. and means for printing the illustrative'portion of the design from the intaglio plate on tlie moistened portion of the sheet. and the reading matter on the dry portion.

Il. In an intaglio printing machine. the combination with an intaglio printing plate, of means for moistening a sheet to be printed locally on that portion which is to receive an imprint from the intaglio plate.

l. The combination with an intaglio plate having an illustrative design, of means for locally moistening a sheet on which the imprint is to be made. and means for printing thereon from the plate while the sheet is in that condition. t

The combination with an intaglio plate having an illustrative. design. and means adjacent thereto t'or registering a sheet in position to receive au imprint therefrom. of a second means for registering the sheet, and means fo' applying moisture to those portions ofthe sheet which register with the illustrative portions of the plate while the sheet is held by said second registering means.

The combination with mea-ns for bolding an intaglio plate having an illustrative design, means adjacent thereto for registering a sheet in position to receive an imprint a projecting portion corresponding with the 130 taking up the excess moisture to secure a. uniform moistening effect.

7. In a printing machine, the combinationx4 "with means for iolding an intaglio plate, means for; making an impression with said. plate upon a sheet, the last named means comprisings a movable member, and means connected with and operated by said m|:|v-'

able member for applying moisture to the portion of thesheet which registers with the illustrative portions of the' intaglio late.

S. In a printing machine, the com ination with an intaglio plate having illustrative portions thereon. a movable member on the machine. means connected with said movable member for making an impression with said plate, means for registering a sheet in position to receive said impression, a second means for registering the sheet, and means connected with said movable member for applying moisture to the portion of the sheet in position to receive the imprint of the illustrative portionsof the plate when said sheet is located b v said second registerf ing means.

t). ln a printing machine, the combination with-a register for the sheets, a second register for the sheets adjacent to the first, an intaglio plate having an illustrative portion located in position for printing adjacent to the first registering device, La block having a projecting portion corresponding with the position and shape of the illustrative portion ot' the intaglio plate located in the saine relative position to the Second reg'- istering device as the intaglio plate is to the h'rst. and means'for locally moistening a sheet in position `over said block.

l0. In a printing machine, the combination with a register for the sheets. a movable feed table. means t'or moving Said feed table, a second register for the sheetsA adjacent to the first, an intaglio plate having an illustrative portion located in position for printing adjacent tothe first registering device, a block having a projecting portion corresponding with'the position and shape of the illustrative position of the intaglio plate" located in the same'rlative position to the second registering device as the intaglio plate is to the first, and means connected with said feed table operating means for locally moistening a sheet in position over sa id block.

11. In a printing machine, the combination with a register for the sheets, a second register for the sheets adjacent to the first, an intaglio plate having an illustrative portion located in position for printing adjacent to the first. registering device. a block having relative` position to the second registering devine as the intaglio plate is to the lirst, amioisteiiing; device. Vmeant; for movingy the miristeningdevice over said l locl a platen movable adjacent to said second registering deviee, and means for operating the platen to prem upon' a sheet 1n the second registermg device.

"II-Va press, the` combination with aV registering-device. of

a lilock located therein andhavi'ng ay projectingr portion. a moisture holding pieeeofsheet material located pa ralle`l with said block. a platen movable to ward and from said block. and means 'for operating the platt .1. whereinv the moisture Holding sheet will he pressed h v tlieiplaten against a sheet of paper held h v the registering device.

1.3. In a press. the @combination with a registering device. of a lilork lorated therein and liaving r a Inojectingy portion. a moisture holdiner piece of sheet material loiated over said block. a platen movalile np and clown toward said block. means for operatint.r the platen. whereby the mo ture holding sheet will he pressed h v the platen against a sheet of ,paper held hy the registering device. a stationair) xvsheet located above the first named sheet. and means for moving the first named sheet periodi willy.

1+. In printing machine. the combinaJ tion. with mea'ns for operatingI a platen conipl'ising an oseillatalile arm. of a second arni connected with said oseillatahle arm to move, therewith. flexible connections connected with eaeh of said arms. a strip of sheet Inaterial connected at its ends with said tlexilde connection. a registering device ior a sheet. means for guiding: said sheet of material along said registering deviee. and means tor )ressine a )a ier ai'ainwr said .sheet of nia- Eb b terial.

15. In a printing press. the combination with an oseillatable arm. of means connected with said arm for making an impression, a

Hexilile conneetion connected with said arm and movable therewith. a piece of sheet inaterial eonnerted with the flexible connection at one end.1 means at the other end of said flexible material. fon moving it hack and forth, al registering device for the paper, means for guiding*Y the sheet material along said registering: devine under the paper therein, means` i'or moistening said sheet material. and means connected with said oseillatalile arm for applying pressure to the paper when over said sheet material.

1.6. In a printintgr press, the combination with a registering device t'or sheets of paper. rollers arranged adjacent thereto.` a .strip ot' sheet material passing over said rollers and along the reginterinar device ander the paper therein. ine-ans eonnected with the ends of said strip of material for :shifting it hack and forth. meansl for constantly applying moisture to said strip of material. and means for pressing the paper over said material in the registering device.

li'. In a printing press. the combination with a registering device for sheets of paper, of rollers arranged adiaeent thereto. a strip oi sheet material passing: over said rollers and along: the registering device. means connected with the ends oi' said strip of inaterial for shifting it hack and forth, means -for constantly applying moisture to said strip of material. a stationar)7 strip of moisture alisorlfing material located adjacent to the first named strip ot material in the. registering device. and means for pressing.lr paper against said material.

18. The combination with means for piantiner from an intaglio plate. of means for loc-all)Y rnoisteniner the sheet where it re,- eeives the illllatrative portion of the design.

YIn testimony whereof 'l have hereunto set my hand. in the presence of two subscribinn witnesses.

i JOHN l". YVUODBURY.

lVitnesses 

